-- Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. He said this on Wednesday while visiting with PA forces in the Gaza Strip, less than three weeks before Israel's scheduled withdrawal from Gaza.



Just yesterday, Qurei told reporters that Israel's withdrawal must be followed by preparations for a further withdrawal from the rest of what he called the West Bank - Judea and Samaria - and eastern Jerusalem. "The step [withdrawal from Gaza] must also be followed by recognizing a Palestinian state," he said.